Honduras vs. Venezuela 2-0

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Before I start, I didn’t explain much about my trip in the last blog. I am here in Honduras for 24 days fulfilling my International Business in Spanish Internship requirement. Also, I visited my favorite Jesuit Priest and Uncle John here 3 years ago with my cousin Andrew, and we loved it. We loved the people, we loved the land, and we loved how John started such great projects for the poor who want to pursue their education. When assigned an internship in a Spanish speaking nation, I was given the perfect excuse to comeback and contribute in any way that I possible could. So I’m here trying to fundraise and get creative in getting these projects and this Parish more self-sustaining financially. OK now about my fun day today…

Today was great. It wasn’t as much productive as it was just fun and carefree for a change. I worked at the parish for a few hours putting some of our new fundraising plans into motion. I also had some delicious sopa(soup). It was Sopa de Chicharrón or pigskin soup. Soooo good tasting, but it looked very gross.

I got a ride back to mi casa for a change, which saved me from my daily near death experience fighting the incline and sun. I got to Skype with Gianna<3 which as always makes me feel rejuvenated. Its good to have someone so sweet, but also someone who will just listen to you complain about the things that everyone here are so accustomed to(cold water buckets for showers, a huge-ass butterfly that wont go away, my sunburn, that rooster that wont go away, the list goes on…) Anyway, thanks Gi.

Then, I went to play fútbol for my 3^rd time here. The first day, I had a bit of beginners luck and with my height, scored a couple headers somehow. The second day, I was the worst one on the field! But today, I don’t know how it happened, but I caught fire!

Before I tell you my awesome soccer story, picture this: a soccer field, well actually, a 20 square yard uneven dirt square. Rocks a plenty, the goals are three branches tied together, and the cheerleaders are a couple tied down caballos(horses). So I love sports, but mainly basketball. I haven’t played soccer since like 6^th grade, and have never particularly loved it. But I wanted to be a part of the community here so, what the heck. PLUS, Kobe Bryant wanted to be a pro soccer player before he decided to be the best basketball player in the world, so that more than enough reason to try it.

Anyway, I get on the field today and play a couple warm up games, and feel pretty decent but I lost both of the warm up games. Then, the main game of the evening started. I got put on the team of my two brothers that I live with along with a goalie. I was beyond stoked to be on a team with my brothers because 1. They don’t get mad even when I miss wide-open shots 2. They really love to play fútbol and 3. They are pretty big dudes, especially for Hondurans (I am guessing height and girth don’t matter as much in official soccer, but it there’s a lotta bump’n’grind playing street soccer).

The game starts and within a minute. I get the ball near the goal and swing my leg and try to kick it straight. It went in! I’m shocked. The next time down, someone heaved it high to me and I knocked in with my head! It helps that I’m at least 4 inches taller than everyone on the field. I went on and scored 3 more headers and 1 more goal with my foot! We ended up winning 9-3 and I contributed 6 of our 9 goals! Our family won! I was super stoked!

We went home, bucket showered, and watched the Honduras vs Venezuela game. Honduras won too! I won again when dinner was served and it was carne asada tacos con avacado with fresh limeade! So much victory on one plate lol!

So I guess the moral of the story is: if Kobe Bryant can like soccer, then it can’t be that bad…

This is what 2 hours of soccer does to Toms shoes